Former British Military Chiefs Warn That National Security Is Being Compromised By Budget Defense Cuts

Defence Of UK Has Diminished 'To A Perilous Degree', Warn Former Armed Forces Bosses As They Hit Out At Cuts In Spending And Lack Of Investment -- Daily Mail

* Damning report by former defence chiefs calls for investment to plug gaps
* They warn national security is being 'severely compromised' by the cuts
* Armed Forces are the 'Cinderella' and 'sacrificial lamb' of the public services'

The Armed Forces' ability to defend the country has diminished to a 'perilous degree' because of spending cuts, former defence chiefs have warned.

They argue in a damning report from the UK National Defence Association (UKDA) that investment is needed to plug gaps in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force created by the funding squeeze.

The UKNDA's chief executive, Commander John Muxworthy, branded the Armed Forces a 'sacrificial lamb' and 'Cinderella of the public services', and said the nation's security is being 'severely compromised'.

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Update: Military chiefs call for reversal of defence cuts -- The Guardian

My Comment: The British government is not paying any attention to them. The cuts are here to stay.

Are British Military Forces At Risk Of A 'Fatal' Cyber-Attack

UK Armed Forces At Risk Of 'Fatal' Cyber-Attack, MPs Warn -- The Guardian

Defence select committee says there are worrying gaps in MoD's cyber-strategy and calls for urgent ministerial intervention.

Britain's armed forces are at risk of being "fatally compromised" by a sustained cyber-attack because the military is dependent on technology that has no proven back-up, MPs have warned .

The potential vulnerability must be addressed urgently, according to the Commons defence select committee, as part of a broader effort across government to face up to the threats posed from cyberspace.

In a withering critique of the government's cyber-strategy, the committee concludes: "The government needs to put in place – as it has not yet done – mechanisms, people, education, skills, thinking and policies which take into account both the opportunities and the vulnerabilities that cyber presents. It is time the government approached this subject with vigour."

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More News On British MPs Being Warned That The UK Armed Forces Are At Risk Of A 'Fatal' Cyber-Attack

British military at risk from cyber attack - watchdog -- Reuters
Reliance on computers could see Armed Forces 'fatally compromised' by terrorists mounting cyber attack -- Daily Mail
U.K. Must Focus on Defense Cyber Security, Lawmakers Say -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Cyber attack could defeat UK armed forces, MPs warned -- Scotsman
Cyber Attack Threat: UK Armed Forces Warned -- SKY News

Military Scientists On The Frontline

What Do UK's Military Scientists Do On The Frontline? -- BBC

It's a little known fact that the UK Ministry of Defence deploys scientists to the frontline in Iraq and Afghanistan. But what do military science advisers do?

To find out, Quentin Cooper from BBC Radio 4's Material World programme interviewed Nick Barrett, programme leader for support to operations at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

QC: Nick, a lot of us are used to the idea that alongside soldiers there are embedded journalists. But aside from medics and engineers, we don't really hear about scientists going to war.

NB: I guess it's not something which has received a lot of media attention in the past, but it's a growing capability. It's a growing initiative to send scientists on to the front line to assist and support our troops.

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My Comment: Fascinating reading .... there is a lot of smart people out there who are risking their lives everyday to better protect the soldiers.

U.K. Reservists Salaries Under Fire

The 'City Soldiers' Paid £100,000 To Fight In Afghanistan: Huge Government Payouts To Reservists Who Earn Less While On Tour -- Tthe Daily Mail

* Some serving reservists earn up to £225,000
* Last year eight reservists were paid more than £100,000 for their tour
* 'Reservist Awards' under review by MoD

Some Armed Forces reservists in Afghanistan are being paid six-figure salaries by the Government, it emerged last night.

Military rules state that if reservists’ pay works out less than they would earn in their civilian job, they can claim for extra cash, known as a Reservist Award.

So if a reservist works in the City, for example, the gap to be made up between the military pay and their civilian salary can be substantial.

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My Comment: I suspect that most of these reservists who were paid these amounts are doctors .... and you do want the best doctors available when you are fighting a war. Since the goal is to have even more reservists .... expect these numbers to mushroom.

The Changing Face Of The British Army

Photo: Tobias Schwarz / Reuters

One In Ten Members Of Armed Forces Was Born Abroad -- The Telegraph

The number of soldiers in the British Army from Commonwealth countries has tripled in recent years.

Troops born overseas now account for a record 12 per cent of the total 101,290 strength, new figures show.

Recruits from some African nations could form battalions all by themselves.

However there are fears that the increasing reliance on foreign-born soldiers, as Britons become harder to retain, could leave the Forces vulnerable if their home countries try to stop them serving in contentious wars such as Iraq or Afghanistan.

The former head of the Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, said: “It would be in my mind a nonsense not to have some sort of ceiling.

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My Comment: I guess these soldiers from Commonwealth nations are doing the service that many Britains no longer have a desire to do.